The Importance of Routine Water Heater Maintenance

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Prepare for Increased Hot Water Usage This Fall With Water Heater Maintenance

The water heater is arguably one of the hardest-working appliances in the home. It’s used daily in various applications, including washing dishes, clothes washers, baths, and showers. A water heater malfunction can cause a severe halt in daily tasks, so it’s important to properly care for the water heater to avoid problems. 

Regular water heater maintenance will help keep the water heater running efficiently and help prevent issues from occurring. This article will discuss what happens during a water heater maintenance visit, the benefits of routine maintenance, and how often it should be done.

What to Expect During a Water Heater Maintenance Visit

water heater maintenanceDuring a water heater maintenance visit, a plumbing professional will perform several tasks to make sure the unit is running properly now and in the future. They will inspect the water heater to verify that it is working correctly, including checking the temperature and pressure relief valve, checking for leaks, and checking for corrosion. 

They will also drain and flush the water heater to remove sediment from inside the tank. This will prevent sediment from building up in the unit, which can cause inefficiency and issues with water heating. Plumbers will also check the water heater anode rod and replace it if necessary to prevent corrosion. 

Benefits of Regular Water Heater Maintenance

save money Water heater maintenance is important as it helps to improve the energy efficiency of the water heater and lowers utility bills. Regular maintenance will also help extend the lifespan of the water heater, allowing it to last longer before needing a water heater replacement. 

Additionally, by performing tasks that help prevent problems and catching any existing problems during the inspection so they can be fixed quickly, water heater maintenance helps reduce the risk of future problems, saving homeowners money on water heater repair costs. 

How Often to Schedule Water Heater Maintenance

Water heater maintenance is recommended to be scheduled once a year. However, when living in an area with hard water, sediment, and minerals can build up in the water heater quicker, so the water heater may need to be drained and flushed, and maintained more often, about every six months. 

Some signs that can indicate the water heater needs to be flushed and drained include a lack of hot water, strange smells from the hot water, and unusual sounds from the water heater, including banging noises that can occur from sediment inside of the tank.

About Falcon Plumbing

Falcon Plumbing has over three decades of experience serving the Miami area. They provide personal attention and upfront pricing with no hidden fees. Call them for water heater maintenance and services in Miami, FL. 

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Why Is Plumbing Maintenance Important for Homeowners?

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Why Schedule Plumbing Maintenance? 

Spring cleaning usually includes a checklist for a reason. There are many things that homeowners have to remember to keep their homes in working order. When it comes to plumbing, a lot of homeowners run the risk of trouble because they neglect the plumbing system. Having a professional perform routine plumbing maintenance helps ensure it keeps operating properly. Here are a few benefits of professional plumbing maintenance to help homeowners understand the investment they should make in their plumbing. 

Keep Things Running Safely and Smoothly 

sinkRegular plumbing maintenance is a beneficial service that helps keep the plumbing system operating well. Preventative maintenance can go a long way toward preventing headaches from plumbing problems down the road because it helps keep the plumbing system operating smoothly and safely. 

When a homeowner calls for plumbing maintenance, there are several things plumbers will do to inspect the system, look for issues, and prevent problems. Some of the tasks done during plumbing maintenance are inspecting for issues like leaks, clogs, and corrosion, checking the water pressure, and performing water heater maintenance tasks such as draining and flushing the tank, inspecting the unit for issues, and checking the anode rod, replacing it when needed. These tasks aim to ensure the home’s plumbing is in good condition and safe from any potential hazards. With routine maintenance, homeowners can better enjoy their time at home instead of needing and paying for more frequent repairs. 

Prolong the Life of Plumbing Components 

Regular maintenance of the plumbing system also plays a crucial role in prolonging its lifespan, ensuring it remains in optimal condition and helping to avoid the need for premature replacement. By addressing minor issues promptly, such as leaks or blockages, and ensuring the system is inspected regularly, homeowners can significantly extend the longevity of their plumbing. 

When plumbing maintenance is neglected, components of the plumbing system can wear out faster. So, to protect the pipes, fixtures, and appliances, let plumbers perform plumbing maintenance routinely. This will greatly extend the life of these plumbing components and save money by preventing premature failure and costs associated with replacements.

Reduce Costs and Save Money

save money Replacement and repair bills are a common problem for homeowners. Just when everything seems to be going right and the budget is balanced, a plumbing problem can blindside homeowners. Another big cost associated with plumbing problems is repairing the damage that can occur, such as fixing water damage from a leak or burst pipe. Not only can plumbing repair and replacement be expensive, but if water damage occurs, the remediation and repair costs can be even more expensive. 

Allowing plumbers to perform maintenance tasks and look for problems early can reduce the risk of problems occurring, saving people money on replacement and repair bills and the associated costs of damage. In addition to these costs, plumbing problems and a lack of maintenance can run up water and utility bills. However, finding and fixing leaks during a maintenance visit will reduce water bills, and water heater maintenance allows the unit to run more efficiently, reducing energy bills.  

About Falcon Plumbing

Falcon Plumbing has over three decades of experience serving the Miami area. They offer personal attention, quality products and materials, and upfront pricing with no hidden fees. Call them for plumbing services in Miami, FL. 

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Keep Your Garbage Disposal Working Smoothly With These Simple Maintenance Tips

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Don’t Let a Broken or Clogged Garbage Disposal Ruin Your Holidays

The holidays are meant to be enjoyed. No one should have to deal with a broken or clogged garbage disposal during this season. And yet, this is precisely the scenario that many homeowners could be facing because of the many holiday gatherings that occur, threatening to overwhelm not just homeowners but their appliances and systems as well. 

If homeowners want to ensure that their garbage disposal doesn’t experience issues after that five-course dinner or holiday gathering is finished and the dishes are piled high in the sink, then read on for some easy tips to keep the garbage disposal humming along smoothly through it all. 

Don’t Get Rid of These Food Items in the Garbage Disposal

When it comes to maintaining the condition of garbage disposals, the first thing to do is to engage in preventative measures, and with garbage disposals, that usually means keeping specific foods away from the drain so that they don’t inadvertently cause the garbage disposal to clog or break. 

These food types include anything excessively oily or greasy since oil and grease can become solid in the disposal and cause it to get blocked or stall. Other kinds of food that could potentially wreak havoc in the disposal include starchy foods that absorb water and expand, such as rice and pasta, stringy and fibrous food like vegetable and fruit peels, which can get caught in the blades, and hard food debris like bones and seeds that can potentially break the blades. 

Even if food gets past the garbage disposal, that doesn’t mean that homeowners are in the clear. These foods, grease, and oil can also wreak havoc on the plumbing by forming clogs in the piping, so avoid using the garbage disposal and drain as a garbage can to prevent problems. 

Run the Disposal With Running Water and Other Tips

sinkKeeping a clean garbage disposal is another way to maintain its condition. This can be done by running the disposal with the faucet on and cold water flowing through the blades. Doing this helps dislodge any food waste that may be stuck inside. Another way to keep the blades clean and functioning properly is to run the disposal with ice cubes inside. The blades should be able to grind the ice cubes, and in the process, the ice can help dislodge any food that has gotten stuck.

Homeowners should also be wary of putting too many food scraps or too much food inside the disposal at the same time. This can overwhelm the system and cause the blades to stop functioning, creating a clog that would be difficult to clear or lead to the garbage disposal breaking. 

When in Doubt, Call the Professionals

garbage disposalWhen the disposal stops working, most people should be able to restart their units by pressing the garbage disposal reset button. However, if homeowners find themselves needing to reset the disposal more often, then there’s likely more to the problem that requires a professional to fix.

Because garbage disposals are complex home appliances, they require professional services for issues. Services such as garbage disposal installation, repair, and replacement require a plumber’s touch. So, when experiencing issues with the garbage disposal system despite a homeowner’s best efforts to prevent problems, it’s important to call a plumber.

About Falcon Plumbing

Falcon Plumbing has been serving Miami, FL, and the surrounding areas since 1986. They provide upfront pricing, personal attention, and fast same-day or next-day service. Call them today for kitchen plumbing and garbage disposal services in Miami, FL. 

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Maintenance Membership Plans: Are They Worth It?

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Here’s What To Look For in a Maintenance Plan

Maintenance Membership Plans become more popular every year as homeowners continue to look for ways to save money and be as eco-friendly as possible. Maintenance plans help with this because they keep the plumbing system working efficiently throughout the entirety of its life, as long as the homeowner continues with the plan. There are other benefits that homeowners experience as well. 

When it’s all said and done, maintenance plans are more worth it than homeowners might think. Continue reading to learn all about what maintenance plans are and how they benefit homeowners. 

Learning the Basics of What a Maintenance Plan Is

Maintenance plans might still be a new concept for many homeowners, but they are pretty straightforward! Typically, the plan is unique to a given company, and they will list out everything the plan includes. The homeowner will then agree to pay a standard fee either monthly or yearly to register for the plan. 

Once the agreement has been made, the homeowner no longer has to worry about their plumbing system. The professionals will ensure that the plumbing system is always properly taken care of and that all appointments are scheduled on time. 

Signing up for a maintenance plan takes away all of the stress of dealing with a home’s plumbing system and remembering to schedule and repair things on time. In turn, the person is left with an efficient plumbing system that saves them money on surprise repairs and even their water bill! 

They Keep Homeowners Accountable 

calendar One of the biggest and most obvious perks of a maintenance plan is that all maintenance will be done on time from the moment the homeowner signs the agreement until they decide they no longer want to pay for the plan. 

In other words, homeowners will never miss a maintenance appointment again! 

Consistent, professional, yearly maintenance provides so many great benefits for plumbing systems, including: 

  • Prevents surprise repairs
  • Reduces risk of water back-ups in the home
  • Reduces the risk of water damage to the home
  • Reduces the water bill
  • Keeps the system working efficiently 
  • Eco-friendly 
  • Promotes a longer-lasting piping system 

With benefits like these, it’s hard to pass up a plan that takes the thinking out of home maintenance. 

Are There Other Benefits?

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Of course, the fun doesn’t stop there! Most, if not all, maintenance plans come with other incentives and benefits. This is where every maintenance plan can start to look a bit different, and it's important for homeowners to research and find the best plan for their specific needs. 

They won’t all offer these amazing bonus benefits but most will include things like: 

  • Discounts on other services, including cleaning services
  • Special coupons that aren’t available to other customers 
  • Reminders to have cleaning services done
  • Discounts on repairs

Falcon Plumbing Cares About Homeowners

Miami homeowners can trust they are in good hands when they call the professionals at Falcon Plumbing. Not only do they have years of experience but they always try to get the job done right the first time. Falcon Plumbing offers one of the best plumbing maintenance plans in South Florida! 

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